The heat’s off Rudd

Paul Kelly: Ross Garnaut has paved the road for Kevin Rudd: he has smashed expectations about a steep 2020 emissions reduction target and he shows the economic cost of climate change action is relatively modest for Australia.

This is a double bonus for the Rudd Government. It is desperately needed. Garnaut has given Rudd more policy flexibility and better political options on the nightmare issue. The unknown test is how Garnaut’s ideas will carry in the international arena.